Snap-hook.



PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

D. B BARTON.-

SNAP HOOK.

- APPLIOATIOH rum) mm. 1a. 1900.

via nun u n cu, pnannmn. u c.

the plane of line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

DELBERT E. BARTON, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

SNAP-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Application filed March 16,1906. Serial No. 306,365.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DELBERT E. BARTON, residing in Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Snap-Hooks, of which the following is a description, referenoe being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in snap-hooks, and has for its object to provide a snap-hook of novel construction whereby the compression-spring may be placed in position after the other parts are properly connected together and have been finished, so that the spring is not subjected to injurious influences consequent to the finishing of the other parts.

Another object of this invention is to so construct the parts that a broken or exhausted spring may be readily removed and replaced by a fresh one.

Another object of this invention is to provide for keeping the parts free from dirt and moisture.

Another object of this invention is to generally improve upon the details of construction.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the snap-hook, its.

parts and combinations of parts, as herein claimed, and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a plan view of a snap-hook constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with parts sectioned. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on Fig. 4 is a plan view of a fragment of the hook member before the tongue is placed in position thereon. Fig. 5 is a side elevation thereof with the loop in section. Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the tongue member before it is connected with the hook member; and Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the snap hook, showing the position of the compression-spring while it is being forced into the throat formed between the hook and tongue members.

In the drawings, 10 represents a hook member which is broadened at its upper end or head where it joins with a loop or connecting means 11, which may be of any desired shape or construction. At the broadened upper end of the hook member there is a pair socket 16, with an opening 17 at its bottom passing entirely through the head of the hook member. Near one side of the chan nel formed between the guide-walls 15'is a gradual incline which ends abruptly at the edge of the socket 16, so as to form a cam or stop lug 18 with the shape in cross-section as shown in Fig. 3.

The tongue vmember 14 is similarly provided with approximately parallel side walls 19, forming a channel between them which ends in a rounded spring-seat 20. In this instance the spring-seat is not depressed below the bottom of the channel and is bounded in front only by the cam or stop lug 21. which is formed similar to stop-lug 18 of the hook member. The spring-seat also contains an opening 22, which stands directly opposite the opening 17, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The cam-lug 21 on the tongue member is so located that when this member is placed in position in the trunnionbearings the cam-lug will be on the opposite side to cam-lug 18 of the hook member, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, and their inclined side surfaces 00 will be approximately parallel. The channels of the hook and tongue members form a throat between them with guide-flanges' on either side, down which throat a coil-spring 23 may be forced when compressed to its full extent, so that its convolutions are in engagement with each other. The cam-lugs 18 and 21 serve to tilt the compressed spring to one side during its passage and afford just sufficient space between them for the spring to pass, as shown in Fig. 7. When the spring is forced beyond the rear ends of the cam-lugs and into the spring-space formed between socket 16 and the spring-seat 20, it expands to a natural condition only slightly under compression and assumes avertical position, as shown in Fig. 3.

The coil-spring 23 when in position behind the cam-lugs 18 and 21 is incapable of being accidentally displaced, as the abrupt ends of these stop-lugs effectively bar its passage outwardly. This is true even when the spring has become weak and shortened by long use, though by means of a pointed tool inserted through the throat between the hook and tongue members such defective springs and springs which have become broken may be removed and new springs may be inserted, just as with the original spring.

Snap-hooks as previously constructed have not been designed to receive their coil compression-springs after the assemblement of the other parts, and consequently these springs have to be inserted while the parts are being assembled and are therefore subjected to the tinning or other finishing process along with the remainder of the snap-hook. The temperature influences which the springs undergo during the tinning process imp air their temper and render them short-lived and of inferior quality, and the tinning process frequently serves to solder them to adjacent parts, so as to have the effect of shortening them by depriving them of action throughout their full length. The snap-hook constructed in accordance with the present invention does not receive its spring until after the tinning or japanning process is completed, and

, consequently such defects are avoided.

Theopenings 1.7 and 22 allow of all dirt and mud being forced out of the spring-space when they happen to gather there and, furthermore, prevent the collection of water in said space to freeze and impair the efficiency of the device.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. A snap-hook comprising a hook member, a tongue member pivotally connected thereto, a spring seated in a spring-space between the hook member and the tongue mem ber, there being athro atway between the hook member and the tongue member along which the spring may be forced into the springspace, and stop-lugs on the hook member and the tongue member on opposite sides of the throatway to compel the spring to be in clined in order to reach the spring-space and serving to retain the spring in the springspace.

2. A snap-hook comprising a hook member, a tongue member pivotally connected thereto, a spring seated in a spring-space between the hook member and the tongue member, flanges on the hook member and the tongue member forming a throatway therebetween along which the spring may be forced to reach the spring-space, and stoplugs on the hook member and the tongue member on opposite sides of the throatway to compel the spring to be inclined in order to reach the spring-space and serving to retain the spring in the spring-space.

3. A snap-hook comprising a hook member, a tongue member pivotally connected thereto, a spring located in a spring-space between the hook member and the tongue member, there being a throatway between the hook member and thetongue member through which the spring may be forced to enter the spring-space, and cam-shaped stoplugs on the hook member and on the tongue member located on different sides of the throatway to incline the spring as it is forced along them and serving to prevent the accidental removal of the spring from the springspace.

4. A snap-hook comprising a hook member, a tongue member pivotally connected thereto, a spring seated in a spring-space between the hook member and the tongue mem ber, guide-walls on the hook member and the tongue member forming opposite channels to produce a throatway along which the spring may be forced into the spring-space, and camshaped stop-lugs in the channels of the hook member and the tongue member located on different sides of the throatway to incline the spring as it is forced along them and serving to prevent the accidental removal of the spring from the spring-space.

5. A snap-hook comprising a hook mem ber, a tongue member pivotally connected thereto, and a coil-spring seated in a springspace between the hook member and the tongue member, there being opposite openings in the hook member and the tongue member leading to the spring-space and through which dirt and moisture may be ejected from the spring-space.

6. A snap-hook comprising a hook memher, ears standing up from the hook member, a tongue member with oppositely-extendin trunnions journaled between the ears an having the ears bent down therearound to form trunnion-bearings, a coil-spring seated in a spring-space between the tongue member and the hook member, guide-walls on the hook member and the tongue member forming opposite channels to produce a throatway between the hook member and the tongue member along which the sprin may be forced to enter the spring-space, anc camlugs in the channels of the hook member and the tongue member and located on o posite sides of the throatway adapted to inc ine the spring as it is forced thereon and serving as stops for holding the spring in the springspace, there being a socket in the hook mem' ber forming a part of the springspace and within which the spring is seated, said hook member and tongue member being provided with openings leading to the spring-space.

through which dirt and water may be ejected.

7. A snap-hook comprising a hook member, a tongue member pivotally connected thereto, a coil-spring seated between the hook member and the tongue member, there being a throatway leading to the spring-seat along which the spring may be forced into place, and a cam on the tongue member adapted to compress the spring as the spring is forced along it and engage and hold the spring on its seat after the spring has snapped behind it.

8. A snap-hook comprising a hook mem ber, a tongue member pivotally connected thereto, a coil-spring seated between the hook member and the tongue member, there being a throatway leading to the spring-seat along which the spring may be forced into place, and a cam on the hook member adapted to compress the spring as the spring is forced along it and engage and hold the spring on its seat after the spring has snapped behind it.

9. A snaphook comprising a hook member, a tongue member pivotally connected thereto, a coil-spring seated between the hook member and the tongue member, there being a tbroatway leading to the sprin -seat along which the spring may be force into place, a cam on the hook member, and a cam on the tongue member, the cams being adapted to compress the spring as the spring is forced along them and engage and hold the spring on its seat after the spring'is snapped behind them.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DELBERT E. BARTON. Witnesses:

R. S. O. CALDWELL, ANNA F. SOHMIDTBAUER. 

